NameCensus.

UK surname

Critcher

A surname derived from an obsolete Middle English word meaning "a crier" or "town crier".

In the 1881 census there were 118 people recorded with the Critcher surname, ranking it #17,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 333, ranked #13,670, up from #17,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, Egham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Dover and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Critcher is 358 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 182.2%.

1881 census count

118

Ranked #17,935

Modern count

333

2016, ranked #13,670

Peak year

2010

358 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Critcher had 118 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016, ranked #13,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 213 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Critcher surname distribution map

The map shows where the Critcher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Critcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Critcher over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 78 #19,840
1861 historical 59 #26,466
1881 historical 118 #17,935
1891 historical 137 #19,501
1901 historical 193 #15,469
1911 historical 213 #14,379
1997 modern 345 #12,291
1998 modern 340 #12,784
1999 modern 347 #12,696
2000 modern 335 #12,953
2001 modern 322 #13,098
2002 modern 343 #12,803
2003 modern 334 #12,847
2004 modern 339 #12,744
2005 modern 333 #12,847
2006 modern 339 #12,754
2007 modern 344 #12,743
2008 modern 337 #13,068
2009 modern 355 #12,832
2010 modern 358 #13,001
2011 modern 350 #13,086
2012 modern 335 #13,408
2013 modern 345 #13,326
2014 modern 343 #13,463
2015 modern 333 #13,676
2016 modern 333 #13,670

Geography

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Where Critchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, Egham, London parishes, St Pancras and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Dover, Babergh, Elmbridge and Cardiff. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Egham Berkshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 010 Sevenoaks
2 Dover 009 Dover
3 Babergh 007 Babergh
4 Elmbridge 014 Elmbridge
5 Cardiff 014 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Critcher

These lists show first names that appear often with the Critcher surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Critcher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Critcher, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Critcher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Critcher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Critcher is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Critcher is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Critcher falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Critcher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Critcher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Critcher

The surname Critcher is of English origin, with roots dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the county of Sussex, where it was derived from the Old English word "crycc," meaning a ridge or small hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Critcher can be found in the parish records of Hastings, Sussex, in 1598, where a John Critcher was mentioned. The name was also present in the nearby village of Burwash, where the surname was sometimes spelled as "Crichter" or "Crytcher."

During the 17th century, the Critcher family seemed to have spread out across the southern counties of England, with records indicating their presence in Kent, Hampshire, and Dorset. In 1674, a William Critcher was listed in the Hearth Tax records for the parish of Selborne, Hampshire.

One notable figure bearing the Critcher surname was John Critcher (1675-1749), a yeoman farmer from the village of Chiddingfold, Surrey. He is mentioned in several land records and parish documents from the early 18th century.

As the centuries passed, the name Critcher continued to be found in various parts of England, with some instances of it being associated with certain place names. For example, in the village of Rogate, Sussex, there was a family of Critchers who owned a farm called "Critcher's Green" in the 19th century.

Another individual of note was Thomas Critcher (1801-1876), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a renowned maritime artist. His paintings and sketches of naval vessels and coastal scenes are highly regarded.

Mary Ann Critcher (1815-1892) was a prominent figure in the early women's rights movement in England. She was a vocal advocate for women's suffrage and worked alongside pioneers like Emmeline Pankhurst to promote equal rights and opportunities for women.

The Critcher surname has also been found in other parts of the world, often traced back to English emigrants who carried the name with them. For instance, there were Critchers who settled in Australia and New Zealand in the 19th century, establishing families and contributing to the growth of those nations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Critcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Critcher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Berkshire leads with 41 Critchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.45x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 41 47.45x
Surrey 24 4.28x
Middlesex 22 1.91x
Buckinghamshire 11 15.81x
Hampshire 7 2.97x
Kent 5 1.27x
Caernarfonshire 4 8.59x
Oxfordshire 3 4.22x
Hertfordshire 1 1.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sunninghill in Berkshire leads with 16 Critchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1333.33x.

Place Total Index
Sunninghill 16 1333.33x
St Pancras London 11 11.87x
Bray 9 354.33x
Barnes 7 295.36x
Mortlake 7 280.00x
Reading St Mary 7 101.16x
Lambeth 6 5.98x
Chenies 5 3333.33x
St Luke London 5 27.09x
Bangor 4 89.09x
Maplederwell 4 5000.00x
Reading St Giles 4 47.17x
Henley On Thames 3 205.48x
Kensington London 3 4.69x
Burnham 2 224.72x
Chalfont St Giles 2 400.00x
Chesham 2 78.13x
Dummer 2 1333.33x
Harmondsworth 2 281.69x
Ramsgate 2 31.20x
Tatsfield 2 2857.14x
Winkfield 2 139.86x
Chobham 1 101.01x
Cobham 1 277.78x
Cudham 1 250.00x
Lewisham 1 4.78x
Monk Sherborne 1 526.32x
Paddington London 1 2.36x
Reading St Lawrence 1 54.05x
Remenham 1 416.67x
Rickmansworth 1 45.87x
Wargrave 1 135.14x
Woking 1 29.59x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Critcher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Critcher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 10
George 8
Charles 5
Edward 5
Thomas 5
Mark 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
James 2
John 2
Aaron 1
Adam 1
Arthur 1
Augustine 1
Charlie 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Critcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Critcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 118 people were recorded with the Critcher surname. That placed it at #17,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Critcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016. That gives Critcher a modern rank of #13,670.

What does the Critcher surname mean?

A surname derived from an obsolete Middle English word meaning "a crier" or "town crier".

What does the Critcher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Critcher bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.